Detachable sailing keel for row boats and the like



June 7, 193s. H. J, rKUE f 2,119,881

DETACHABLE SAILING KEEL. FOR ROW BOATS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 18, 1938 Zine Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES DETACHBLE; SAILING KEEL FOR ROW BOATS AND* THE LIKE I Harold J. Kline, Patterson, N. Y.

Application November 18, 1936, Serial No. 111,522

1 Claim.

This invention relates tocertain new and useful improvements in detachable sailing keel for row boats and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- Vide a detachable keel for row boats or the like wherein a small boat may be converted into a sail boatby the provision of a detachable keel that may be easily and quickly attached to a keel strip on the bottom of the boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detachable keel for row boats or other small boats to convert the same into sailing boats with the detachable keel interlockingly connected with a keel strip extending longitudinally of the bottom of the boat, the keel being preferably formed of wood and carrying angle flanges at each side of its upper edge for slidable interlocking engagement with metallic rods carried by opposite sides of the keel strip on the bottom of the boat, the

gauge of the metallic angle flanges being such that stops at the forward ends thereof engaged with the rods will be bent to permit rearwardly sliding engagement of the keel from the keel strip should the keel move into engagement with an obstruction which would otherwise damage the keel or damage the bottom of the boat.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a row boat or the like with a keel engaged with the keel strip on the bottom of a boat;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure l, showing the slidable interlocking connection between the keel and keel strip;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing abutment ends carried by the guide flanges on the keel for limiting rearward movement of the keel on the keel strip of the boat; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the detachable keel.

The boat IIJ fragmentarily illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is of a small type, such as row boats or the like and the object of the present invention is to equip such a boat with a detachable keel shown at II to convert the boat into one of the sailing type at a comparatively low cost, the keel being detachable from the boat so that the latter may be used in a manner for which the same was originally designed. The bottom I2 of the boat carries a keel strip I3 that extends longitudinally of the bottom face of the bottom l2, to be secured to the boat in any convenient manner, the keel II being detachably engaged with the keel strip I3.

The detachable keel II comprises a board I4 of trapezoidal shape having a straight lower edge I5 and inclined side edges I6, the upper edge I1 of the board I4 carrying means for attaching the keel to the keel strip I3. An angle member and channel are carried by each side of the keel board I4 at the upper edge I'I thereof, each angle member including a metallic strip I8 carrying an outwardly directed flange I9 that is inwardly bent at its outer edge to provide an inwardly opening channel, the metallic strips I8 being anchored to the keel board I4 by bolts or rivets 2| as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4. The forward ends of the channels 2D are closed on abutment walls 20a for purposes presently to appear. A guide rod 22 is secured as at 23 to each side of the keel strip I3 at the lower edge thereof with the upper edge of the guide rod spaced from the lower face of the bottom I2 of the boat IU to provide a clearance for the interlocking reception of the upper side of the channels 20 as shown in Figure 2.

The boat I0 may be raised on a dock, or partially raised out of water to permit the slidable mounting of the keel II upon the keel strip I3, the channels 20 being slidably and interlockingly engaged with the guide rods 22 with thekeel II limited in its rearward sliding movement on the keel strip by the forward end abutment walls 20a carried by the channels 20 being engaged with the forward ends of the guide rods 22. A relatively tight t is formed between the channels 20 and guide rods 22 to retain the keel II in position on the keel strip and to prevent accidental displacement thereof. The gauge of the metallic channels 20 is such as will permit bending of the abutment walls 20a should the keel I I strike an abutment, such as a rock or submerged log to permit rearwardly sliding movement of the keel and separation of the keel from the boat without damage to the boat or keel. The keel and its mounting are of extremely simple construction and are capable of inexpensive manufacture, and when constructed of wood, the buoyancy thereof, causes the same to float on water when disengaged from the keel strip. The T-shaped connection between the keel and keel strip provides for an even distribution of strains at the bottom of the boat.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. y

ment walls formed integral with the walls of the channels at the forward ends of the channels and normally extending across the forward ends of the channels engageable with the forward ends of the guide rods for limiting rearwardly sliding movements of the keel board on the keel strip, said abutment walls being bendable laterally and outwardly of the forward ends of the channels and out of line with the guide rods when a predetermined pressure is exerted on the forward edge of the keel board whereby the keel board may be slidably disengaged from the keel strip by rearwardly sliding movement relative to the keel strip.

HAROLD J. KLINE. 

